Portable bottle refrigerator carton



y 1950 w. F. KORNFELD EI'AL 5 5 PORTABLE BOTTLE REFRIGERATOR CARTON Filed March 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR u y 1950 w. F. KORNFELD ETAL 2,514,651

PORTABLE BOTTLE REFRIGERATOR CARTON Filed March 20, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented July 11, 1950 PORTABLE BOTTLE REFRIGERATOR CARTON William Frank Kcrnfeld, Bayside, and William S. Nagle, Hollis, N. Y.

Application March 20, 1947, Serial No. 735,842

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible carton and assembly for carrying bottles and more particularly to a portable carton which in assembled and set-up condition serves as a refrigerator for bottled products during transportation or storage.

In instances where bottled products are to be carried by an individual when traveling it is often necesary to keep the bottled products cool to prevent spoilage or it may be desirable to keep the products cool for other reasons. As a typical example, an individual may be traveling long distances with an accompanying baby or small child who must be fed milk and it is necessary to carry the milk along on the trip. Not infrequently, circumstances are such that the milk will spoil by the time it is needed and in the absence of means to prevent the spoilage or facilities for obtaining fresh milk serious consequences may well ensue and therefore traveling with babies or small children is, from this point of view, difiicult or at least presents a problem.

According to the invention a portable container which is very economical and convenient, is provided to serve as a refrigerator for bottled products, such as milk, beverages or other bottled products. The container assembly may be produced in collapsed conditions so as to occupy minimum space when not in use as a refrigerator; this being a particular advantage when large quantities are shipped or stored prior to the time the containers are dispensed individually for use.

When the hereinafter described assembly is set up for use it makes a portable bottle cooler or refrigerator which comprises a paperboard shell having side Walls and a square bottom, to provide a refrigerator chamber, removable side wall and bottom wall insulator inserts made of corrugated paperboard; a collapsible, removable and vented paperboard refrigerant receptacle adapted for insertion in the center of the refrigerator chain-- ber so that spaces to accommodate a bottle in each of its corners are provided while at the same time the side walls of the refrigerant receptacle exert a yielding pressure against bottles in the bottle spaces to keep them firmly in place; a moisture and gas impervious bag to hold a sublimable or meltable refrigerant within the refrigerant receptacle; a cover for the refrigerator chamber frictionally engaging the shell; and a flexible handle so that the refrigerator and contents may be conveniently carried.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention will be pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention itself as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the paperboard blank to make the shell to form the refrigerator chamber;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the corrugated paperboard blank to make the side wall insulator insert;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the corrugatedpapenboard blank to make the bottom wall insulator insert;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the paperboard blank to make the vented refrigerant receptacle;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the refrigerant holding bag for insertion in the refrigerant receptacle;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the paperboard blank to make the refrigerator chamber cover;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective showing the bottle cooler assembly in collapsed condition and showing how it may conveniently be inserted in a fiat paper envelope;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the various parts set up and ready for assembly;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View partly broken away of the bottle cooler when assembled for use with the cover off and showing the position of the bottles and refrigerant receptacle; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-section in elevation partly broken away of the assembled bottle cooler showing the contents.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters represent similar parts in the different views, the shell, which forms the refrigeration chamber, is made from a blank as shown in Fig. 1. The blank 9 is a flat sheet of kraft board comprising side wall panels H), H, I2 and [3 of rectangular shape, glue flap l4, bottom flap panels an I6 extending from panels l0 and I2, a bottom cover flap panel 11 extending from panel l3 having a tuck flap I8, and a lock-- ing bottom flap [9 extending from panel I I, the locking panel l9 having a tuck tongue 20. The blank 9 is scored along parallel lines 2!, 22, 23 and 24 and along lines 28, 29, 3E} and 3| to form the panels and flaps mentioned above. Locking panel IQ is scored along line 32 to form the tongue and bottom cover panel I! is scored along line 33 to form tuck flap iii. A slit 34 is provided on score line 3| to receive the tuck '20; apertures 35 trated in Fig. 8.

and 36 are provided in panels I l and I3 to accommodate a cord handle; and slits 31 and 38 are provided at the ends of score line 33 to aid in locking the bottom cover panel ll in position when the shell is set up.

The blank 9, just described is first folded and glued to provide a collapsed shell by gluing the glue flap M to the inside edge Illa of panel It, the score lines being broken. This gluing operation can be performed on high speed gluing machines, which deliver the glued blanks in collapsed flat condition.

These glued shell blanks are provided with a flexible handle such as a cord 40, the ends of which extend through the apertures 35 and 36 and are then knotted. Cardboard washers ll and 42 are used to prevent the knots 43 and M from pulling through the shell.

The shell, designated generally by reference character 45, is shown in set-up condition in Fig.

'8. It will be understood that panels l and it 'are foldedinwardly, then panel ll folded inwardly and tuck'fiap I8 extended upwardly be- "tween the edges of panels l5 and lfi'and the insideof the side wall N.

Then the locking flap [9 isfolded'over bottom cover panel I! and the tongue 29 is inserted in slit 34.

The paperboard blank 9 for making the refrigerant receptacle shown in'Fig. 4 comprises side wall panels 5!, 52, 53 and 54 and glue flap 65. End flaps 56 and'5l extend from panel 5i .end flaps 58 and 59 extend from panel 53; and

cover flap 69, having tuck tongue 6!, extends from panel 52, and the other end cover flap 62, :having tuck tongue 63, extends from panel 54.

The blank is scored as indicated by the dot-dash lines. Itis to be particularly noted that each deliver the gluedblanks in collapsed condition. Then the collapsed receptacle can be set upby folding in the various end flaps and tucking in the tongues 6! and 53. This receptacle 5c is shown in partial "set-up condition in Fig. 8.

The side wall insulator insert comprises a blank 65 of corrugated boxboardscored along'parallel lines 56, El, E8 to form side wall panels 59, Ill,

ll and 72 to register with the inside surfaces of panels l0, I I, l2 and 13 of the shell 45. The

bottom wall insulator insert comprises a square blank '13 of corrugated boxboard and is of a size to fit snugly in the bottom of the shell 45. After the bottom insert is inserted in the shell, the side wall insulator 65 may be easily inserted in the shell by folding it along the score lines,as illus- The side wall insert panels are then pressed against the registering adjacent side walls of the shell and thus the shell and inserts provide a refrigerator chamber designated generally by reference character H.

The refrigerant holding bag M comprises a tube sealed at its bottom end and left open at its upper end '16. This bag is made of a thin material which is known as gas and moisture impervious plastic material, there being a Variety of such materials available on the market. One such material is now sold under th name of Pearlon. In any event, the bag is made of what is known as moistureand vaporproof sheet material; the primary reason being that it will accommodate a refrigerant such as solid carbon dioxide which produces its cooling efiect by sublimation or it will accommodate cracked water ,ice which produces its cooling effect by melting. The moistureproof material prevents any messiness which would otherwise result from the water of melting ice.

The kraft board blank 18 to form the refri erator chamber cover 19 comprises a top cover panel which is square to register with the open top of the shell 45 when set up, side wall panels BI and 82, from which extend glue flaps 83, 84, and 86; and side wall panels 81 and 88 which are scored along diagonal lines 89. The blank is scored to form the panels and flaps just mentioned as indicated in Fig. 6; the score lines along the cover panel 80 having slits, if desired, to facilitate folding. This blank may be glued and folded on high speed machines known as diagonalgluing machines which are adapted to glue the blanks and deliver them in collapsed flat condition with folds known as infold creases. 'In the trade a box-of this'type of fold is known as a Beers box. It is characterized by the fact that the side wallsare folded inwardly over the center panel. Thus whenppened up the side walls have a tendency to urge themselves inwardly. Hence the refrigerator cover 19, shown in glued and partially opened condition in Fig.8, has depending side walls BI, 82, .81 .and.88 which grip the shell 45 whenthe coveris placed .onit with its side walls telescoping over the-outside of the shell as shown in-Fig..l0.

It will be seen 'from -the foregoing description that the various parts of the assembly may be produced on high speed machinery and delivered in collapsed flat condition. The parts in thisflat collapsed condition may be conveniently. inserted in a standard .fiatpaper envelope 99 of suitable .size, as illustrated in Fig. 7. -Accordingly large orders may be shipped and stored in minimum space and an assembly'may be conveniently dispensed in-a fiat package to individuals asneeded.

When'it'is desired to set up the assembly to be used as a-refrigerator for bottled products anyone can easily do so on the spot. For-example, a persontraveling by airplane witha baby in arms can be suppliedwith the refrigerator where milk is available. Solid carbon dioxide (Dry Ice) is preferable as a refrigerant but ice will serve if the formeris not obtainable. The bottle cooler is set up as described, the refrigerant placed in the bag M and inserted in the receptacle .50, after which the flaps are closed. If Dry Ice is used the bag is left open'at the top to provide an escape for the sublimed carbon dioxed gas into the receptacle 50. If ice is used, the bag may be closed off by a string or rubber band 9! and the water from the ice will be retained in the waterproof bag I4. Therefri-gerantreceptacle 59 is then inserted in the refrigerator chamber 11 in the center as shown in Fig. .9. This leaves a space in each of the four cornersof the chamber T! to accommodate a bottle ofmilk 92. The shell is designed primarily to accommodate typical or standard type babymilk bottles hav- (see Figs. 9 and 10) exert a yielding pressure against the side walls of the bottles, by reason of the flexibility of the paperboard. And it will be noted that each bottle is held in place by contact with the paperboard walls in three places around the periphery of the bottle; the points of contact being circumferentially spaced substantially equal distances apart. Thus jostling about of the bottles is prevented and they are well protected from breakage due to jolts or shocks. It is to be noted also that the vent ports 64 are placed all along the side walls of the receptacle 50 which better insures uniform cooling of the milk in the bottles.

The cord handle 40 is made long enough so that it can be thrown over the shoulder of a person carrying the bottle cooler and if it is necessary to carry a small child at the same time, the additional chore of carrying milk is not in the least burdensome.

Baby bottle coolers made according to the invention have proved eminently satisfactory in actual use by persons traveling and accompanied by small children. They have met with ready acceptance by large air line companies as the invention has provided a very satisfactory solution to some of their problems as well as problems confronting passengers.

Moreover, it is not without significance that the refrigerator bottle coolers herein described may be made on high speed mass production machines with consequent savings in cost. Therefore each bottle cooler assembly represents a sufliciently low cost that it can be thrown away after use without material loss. Yet it may be used over and over again if desired.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to its use as a refrigerator for baby milk bottles, it will be understood that other bottled products may be cooled, transported or stored under refrigeration according to the invention and in the claims it is intended that such bottled products or bottles be considered as the equivalent of baby milk bottles.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expresions Of exeluding any equivalent of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable container suitable for the refrigeration of bottled products during transportation which comprises a set-up paperboard shell which may be collapsed to substantially flat condition, said shell forming a refrigeration chamber; corrugated paperboard inserts insertable in said chamber serving to insulate its bottom and side walls; a paperboard receptacle which may be collapsed to substantially flat condition, set up and placed within said chamber forming a refrigerant receptacle having yieldable vented side walls,

leaving spaces between said side walls of the refrigerant receptacle and the walls of the refrigeration chamber for the insertion of the bottles,

said side walls having holes along their length and serving to yieldably press against bottles when placed in said spaces to hold said bottles firmly within said chamber, said receptacle having an interior spac within which to insert the hereinafter mentioned bag, a bag made of thin material in which may be held a solid sublimable refrigerant material, a paperboard cover having a cover panel and side walls collapsible to substantially fiat condition, which forms a closure for said refrigerator chamber having depending sgielwalls to telescope and frictionally engage said s e 2. A portable container suitable for the refrigeration of bottled products, such as baby milk bottles, during transportation which comprises a set-up paperboard shell which may be collapsed to substantially fiat condition, said shell forming a refrigeration chamber having a substantially square bottom and top; a paperboard receptacle which may be collapsed to substantially fiat condition, set up and placed within said chamber forming a refrigerant receptacle leaving spaces between its walls and the walls of the chamber for the insertion of the bottles, said walls serving to hold bottles firmly within said chamber when placed in said spaces by contact with said bottles at no less than three points of contact circumferentially spaced about the peripheries of the bottles, said receptacle having an interior space within which to insert a refrigerant material; and a paperboard cover for closing said refrigeration chamber.

3. A portable refrigerator container for milk bottled in conventional baby milk bottles, which comprises an outer paperboard tubular shell of square cross section having vertical insulated side walls and an insulated bottom closure, said shell forming a refrigerator chamber, a tubular paperboard refrigerant receptacle of square cross section vertically disposed in the center of said shell and positioned with its vertical side walls at an angle of 45 to the side walls of said shell thereby providing a space for a baby bottle in each corner of said shell between the interior surface of the walls of the shell and the exterior surface of the walls of said receptacle, said walls serving to hold bottles firmly within said chamber when placed in said spaces by yielding pressure against said bottles at no less than three points of contact circumferentiahy spaced about the peripheries of the bottles, and a removable paperboard cover closing said refrigerator chamber.

WILLIAM FRANK KORNFELD. WILLIAM S. NAGLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 715,026 Crawford Dec. 2, 1902 1,713,682 Walter May 21,1929 1,985,990 Hanson Jan. 1, 1935 2,109,716 Annen Mar. 1, 1938 

